Back in Action and….a Senior?

After passing empty diners and fields of lonely cows on my four-hour drive to school, I'm always tempted to turn around. I think about what I'm leaving at home and the summer that has just passed. But, the second I reach Exit 18, it all fades. As I accelerate up the University hill, I'm greeted by castle-like buildings, the bustling quad, and a contagious spirit.

This semester is the beginning of my senior year at Syracuse University. My friends have already become nostalgic with "Senior year: The End" Facebook albums. It's the first time the freshman look extremely young to me. There are graduation countdown signs throughout campus. Being a senior is still intangible to me. This can't last for long. After all, I'm the girl who bawled uncontrollably during her fifth grade graduation because she didn't want to leave elementary school.

While the transition into College ended up being a little different than the one into middle school, it came smoothly and full of possibility. Even during stressful times or homesickness, there's something to do on-campus whether it's sporting events, gatherings to watch at Gossip Girl or an "Ugly Christmas sweater" party. Other times, the choices can be overwhelming—I want to make the most what's available.

This semester marks many new, exciting changes. First off, it's the first time my friends are all together since our sophomore year. We studied abroad at different times and most of us hadn't seen each other for over a year. Secondly, I'm finally happy with my housing. I'm living in an off-campus house with eight other girls. My room here is bigger than mine at home! (A nice change from my freshman dorm-closet) Thirdly, I have my lightest schedule ever. I'm almost done with requirements, so I only need 12 credits this semester. I'm majoring in magazine journalism, which I absolutely love. In high school, I never envisioned my college assignments to consist of reading magazines. I would've never guessed that Vogue or Self would be on my professors' resumes.

It's also the first time I have a boyfriend here. While we started dating at the end of last semester, none of my friends were here. Now that they're back, I'm a bit worried about dividing up my time. I've never had a problem balancing time between boyfriends and friends in the past, but college is different— there's so much going on and I'm always busy.

The funny thing about my love for Syracuse, is that I never wanted to go here. My mom made me apply because of the journalism program. I wanted to be a journalist but I imagined myself studying English at a small liberal arts school outside of a major city. With 12 separate colleges within the University and the closest major city over 250 miles away, Syracuse didn't fit my requirements. It's difficult for a high school senior to know exactly what she wants in a college. Big, small, urban, rural—there's so much to choose from and we aim to pick a perfect school, not what may be right for us. I had been looking too closely at the external factors of colleges, not what they were really about. It's not hard to see their true personalities, though. The second I walked on to campus, I felt everything that I would come to love about this school: Pride, energy and determination. The older as I get, the more I realize, Mom is always right.

What are you excited to do in college? What are you looking for in a College? Have you found the school that's right for you?

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